(CFP Photo)

China Eastern Airlines plans to operate a daily Nanjing-Kuala Lumpur service starting June 30.

The outbound flight from Nanjing Lukou International Airport will take off at 22:50 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 4:40 am the next day. The inbound flight will depart at 5:50 and reach Nanjing at 11:35 the same day.

The new service comes amid the recovery of international tourism. China has been one of the largest sources of tourists to Malaysia for many years. Malaysia has offered visa-free access for Chinese tourists for 30 days since December 1, 2023.

Inbound flights and passenger volume at Nanjing Lukou International Airport during the May Day holiday increased by 79.2% and 89.5% year-on-year, respectively, with a significant portion of passengers from Southeast Asia.